Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Melbourne Ports, Victoria, 1998. Re-elected 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. Retired prior to general elections 2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts from 25.3.2013 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Privileges served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Selection served from 18.2.2002 to 17.10.2007; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 20.3.2002 to 20.3.2003; Procedure served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Select: Republic Referendum served from 9.6.1999 to 9.8.1999; Cyber-Safety served from 18.3.2010 to 19.7.2010; Cyber-Safety served from 12.10.2011 to 14.5.2013
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 8.12.1998 to 4.12.2000; Electoral Matters served from 26.6.2001 to 19.3.2002; Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 20.3.2002 to 7.12.2006; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 2.12.2004 to 30.6.2011; Electoral Matters served from 8.12.2006 to 19.7.2010; Migration served as Chair from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 1.7.2011 to 14.5.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.9.2016 to 17.10.2016; Treaties served from 17.10.2016 to 11.4.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.2.2018 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Statutory: Intelligence and Security served from 18.11.2010 to 2.4.2013

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 03.10.1998 to 11.04.2019
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Caucus Social Policy Committee.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Caucus National Security and Trade Committee.
• Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 22.11.2001 to 17.10.2007.

Other positions

• Deputy Chair of the Australia/US Parliamentary Friendship Committee.
• Secretary of the Australia/Israel Friendship Group.

Personal

• Born: 16.2.1955, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Manager of HalMaag Art Gallery.
• President of Student Council from 1975 to 1976.
• Assistant to Mr S Lipski from 1977 to 1980.
• Assistant Private Secretary to the Hon. B Cohen, MP from 1983 to 1984.
• Senior Vice-President of the International Youth Conference, Kingston, Jamaica, 1985.
• Editor of the Australia/Israel Review from 1986 to 1993.
• Adviser to the Minister for Tourism, the Hon. A Griffiths, MP from 1993 to 1994.
• Industrial Officer for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association from 1994 to 1996.

Military Service

• Officer Cadet Training 1980-82.

Electorate

• Name: Melbourne Ports
• Location: inner Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Albert Park, Balaclava, Caulfield, Caulfield East, Elwood, Middle Park, Port Melbourne, Ripponlea, St Kilda, St Kilda East, St Kilda West, Southbank and South Melbourne, and parts of Docklands, Elsternwick and South Yarra.
• Area: 40 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 102,283 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: car assembly plants, aircraft parts production, stevedoring and various manufacturing, commercial and retail industries.
• Includes: Melbourne Ports includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Albert Park, and parts of Brighton, Caulfield and Prahran.